Pumping system



Patented Aug. 20, 1940 i vUNriisD VSTATI-:s *PATENT OFFICE Fred A. Carpenter, Berkeley, Calif. Application January so, 1939, smal No. 253,579.

9 Claims.

This invention relates tosition lines for centrifugal pumping systems which incorporate a booster for augmenting the lift of the pump through the medium of an injector operating in the suction line and operated through the medium of water under pressure delivered from the discharge of the pump, andincludes a special adapter through the medium of which, the pump can be connected to either, the parallel conduit lo type, or the coaxial type of suction-booster line. In connection with the installation of the usual types of-suctionbooster lines, special bases or housings are used to 'connect the pump to the suction and booster lines; the pump bases are modiiied and in some cases even the suction line is changed or altered for adaption to different systems. An entirelyl different type of connection is required for systems in which a separate' booster line is used than for such as utilize 30 the' well casing as one of the lines. Thus, even` the pump connections must be designed differently for each type of booster system.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide centrifugal pumps of both, horizontal and vertical type, with a standard base and connections i'or connecting to either type of suctionbooster system, such as the parallel conduit type and the well casing type of booster line, 4and to provide a standard pair of connections on the pumps for direct connection to the parallel type, and to provide an adapter for connecting through the same standard pair of connections, to the well casing type.

Another object is to provide a booster-suction 85line in which the suction line extends axially down into the well casing and in which the well casing is utilized as the booster line, which, being under pressure of a contained liquid, obviates any possibility of air leakage into the casing and 4G its eventual delivery to the suction line, .the introduction of which air would seriously aiect operation of the pump and which may be carried to the stage of inoperativeness thereby.

A further object is to provide a special type 45 of injector with a nozzle and including` bypass means for the suction stream about the nozzle and directing means for directing the uid under pressure in the well casing into and through the nozzle, with complete isolation of both 50 streams up to the tip of the nozzle with complete encompassment of the nozzle by the" suction stream.

A further object is to provide the suction line, intermediate its height, with a venturi and an 55 injector nozzle for suitably diverting Water under (c1. s-f5) pressure, from the well casing, through the nozzie into the venturi for boosting the lift of water, while eiliciently bypassing water from the well about the nozzle into the venturi, with admixture of the two streams occurring only after ejec- 5 tion beyond the -tip of the nozzle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent -as the following description is read on the drawing forming a part of this specication, and in which similar ref- 10 erence characters vare used to indicate similar parts throughout'the several views, of which:

Fig. 1 is va sectional elevation through the invention as applied to a vertical centrifugalpump.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken at right angles to that of Fig. 1, and shows the suctionbooster line in a state of partial dis-assembly, and disconnected from -the pump Fig. 3, to clearly illustrate the means of attachment.

lFig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the pump '20v with the'booster line connection nipple assembled therewith.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the same suction-booster line using the same -adapteras in the previous views, and connected to a horizontal pump.

Fig. 5 is -a fragmentary view 'showing the pump connection head with the parallel type of suction and booster conduits connected thereto. 0 The pump may be either, the vertical type l@ a@ shown in Figs. 1 and 3, or the horizontal type Ii shown in Fig. 4, and which are driven by a motor l2 having a pressure-controlled switch i3 and a pressure controlled valve ld for controlling the pressure of the supply for boosting the lift of the pump, the usual pressure gauge i5 also being provided.

Both types of pumps are provided with a base i6 which includes identical connection heads I'i having one passage i8 threaded for securing the 40 nipple la in the connection head Il. This nipple i9 terminates at its lower end in a bolting iiange 28, and the passage i8 communicates directly with the discharge 2i of the pump.

The connecting head Il also includes a threaded passage 22 into which the suction pipe 23 is threadedly secured, and this passage communicates directly with the intake 24 of the pump.

This same type of connection head I1 is illustrated in copending application, serial number 232,642, filed September 30, 1938, covering an automatic water system, but in that disclosure, an outside booster, or pressure line, is connected in place of the nipple I9. For this reason, the disclosure so far made, minus the nipple I 9, 55

is adaptable without change for assembly with the suction and booster lines in that application. t

To adapt this same connection head to the casing type booster, or self-contained suctionbooster line illustrated in this instant application, an adapter is provided which consists oi a pipe flange 26 threadedly secured to the top end of the well casing 26, and, a manifold 21 has an axial bore provided with a packing ring recess 28 which in turn is provided with resilient packing 29 which packs the bore against leakage about the suction pipe 23 when the gland plate 30 is drawn down by means of the screws 3l, thus effectively sealing the adapter to the outside periphery of the suction line in any desired adjusted position. The manifold 21 lalso has the booster passage 32 formed therein and which communicates directly with an annular chamber formedv coaxially with the bore for the suction line, and this passage terminates in radially spaced relation to the bore for the suction line and in registrable relation to the passage I8, and is provided with tapped holes for cooperation with the screws 33 for bolting the flange 20 down onto the top face 34 of the manifold; a suitable gasket 35 being provided for effectively sealing the, joint.

As will be noted, the passage 32 expands into the annular' chamber 36 which encompasses the suction line 23 and communicates freely with the annular space between the suction line 23 and well casing 26.

As will be further noted, the only change necessary for connecting either type of vpump to the type. of suction-booster line disclosed in the previously mentlonedcopending application is, to omit the adapter, including the pipe iiange, manifold and nipple, and connect the individual suction and booster lines directly, as is iragmentarily4 usual foot valve (not shown), and has installed` intermediate its length, a venturi 38 and a nozzle 39, forming together, an injector, for boosting the lift of the pump.

The nozzle 39 is formed integral with a booster foot sealing member 4I) which has a passage 4I extending horizontally therethrough and sealed from the suction line and communicating between the nozzle 39 and the annular space 42 between the suction line 23 and well casing 26; and another passage 43 straddles the walls of the passage 4I as indicated at 44, and forms a through passage between the foot section 31 of the suction line and the venturi 38 and completely encompassing the nozzle, passes through the Venturi to the main line 23.

This provides for substantially unimpeded flow of water through both, the nozzle, and the suction line, and provides a structure of high eii'iciency. A resilient seal 45 is provided to seal the annular space 42 from the portion of the casing below the plane of the nozzle, and the seal is made effective by screwing the suction pipe down 46, which usually communicates with a pressure tank, is always in communication with the booster line, such as the separate booster pipe 41, Fig. 5, or, through the nipple I9 and manifold 21 with the annular space 42 in the casing 26.

Whenthe pump I0 or I I is placed in operation, the water is discharged through a control valve I4 into the supply or distributing conduit 46, and as the pressure builds up in this conduit, the valve acts to increase the pressure in the passages I8 and 42, diverting more water under higher pressure down through the passage 42 and up through the nozzle 39, acting on the water drawn by suction and boosting its velocity through the venturi 38, and a similar effect is created as the level 48 of the water recedes, the

increased vacuum set up by the pump reducing the resistance against the jet issuing from the nozzle.

As will be noted, the booster line, being formed by the annular space between the well casing 26 and suction line 23, is always under pressure and filled with water, therefore there is no possibility of air leakage into either the suction line or the pressure line for the booster. As is well known, theintroducton of air into the suction line would createan inoperative condition of the pump. In case of leakage at any joint in the system, water might leak out but no air can leak in,th erefore this system provides a perfect seal against the possibility of air introduction to the suction.

The system is easily and conveniently installed and economical in construction, and the adapter is simple, economical to construct and easily applied.

It will-be understood that variations in construction and arrangement of parts, which variations are consistent with the appended claims,

may be resorted to without detracting from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. In a pumping system, a well casing, a centrifugal pump having an intake and a discharge, a suction line extending into said well casing and communicating with said intake, a booster jet operatively. associated with said suction line and communicating with the annular space between thesuction line and the well casing, a connection communicating between said discharge and said annular space and forming in combination a booster line; and an adapter attached to the top of said well casing and encompassing said suction line and including sealing means sealing the top of said casing against escape of iiuid; said connectiony comprising a passage formed viti said adapter and a, manually-disconnectable, non, obstructional communicating member communicating between said passage and said discharge for connecting said adapter to said pump and permitting free and unrestricted relative rotation of adapter and pump when said member is disconnected.

2. A structure as deiined in claim 1; said adapter comprising a iiange for the top end of said well casing; a manifold forming a head and attached to said flange and having a suction line passage with said sealing means cooperating with the suction line passing therethrough, and a booster passage forming a part of 'said connection and communicating with the annular space between the inside of vthe well casing and outside of the suction line; said disconnectable communicating member comprising a nipple detachably connected to said adapter with the connecting cooperative surfaces free of obstructional influences against relative rotation of adapter and pump when said nipple is disconnected. Y

.3. A centrifugal pump having a base, an intake and a discharge; a well casing; a suction line; a booster line and a booster jet operating in said suction line; said suction line being in communication with ysaid intake; a connecting head formed on said base and having a booster passage communicating with said discharge, and a suction passageV in direct communication with said intake, said passages being adapted for directA connection to said booster line and said suction line respectively in parallel, and, an adapter connectable between said head and the head of said well casing for connecting the well casing to said booster passage to convert the well casing into the booster line, and including sealing means for sealing the adapter to the outer periphery of the suction line with the suction line located' axially within the well casing to form an annular booster passage between the suction line and the casing said adapter comprising a connecting head and a nipple, a flange face formed on the top surface of said connecting head and in a plane at right angles to the axis of the suction line and well casing; said nipple having a plane flange face for bolted connection to said plane flange face on said connecting head to provide for unobstructed relative rotation of said pump and said head when said nipple is unbolted.

4. A centrifugal pump having a base, an intake and a discharge; a well casing; a suction line; a booster line, and a booster jet operating in said suction line; said suction line being in communication with said intake; a connecting head formed on said base and having a booster passage communicating with said discharge, and a suction passage in direct communication with said intake and forming the medium of communication between the suction line and the intake; said passages being adapted for direct connection to said booster line and to said suction line respectively, in parallel, and, an adapter connectable between said head and the head of said well casing for connecting said well casing to said booster passage to convert said Well casing into the booster line, and including sealing means for sealing the adapter to the outer periphery of the suction line with the suction line located axially within the well casing to form an annular booster passage between the suction line and the casing; and in which said suction and booster passages in the connecting head are threaded for threaded connection directly with the suction line and the booster line in parallel, and in which said adapter includes a manifold and a nipple threaded at one end and flanged at the other end for bolted connection to the top of the manifold to facilitate installation and permit adjustments of the pump and suction line relative to the well casing when said flange is free.

5. A centrifugal pump having a base, an intake and a discharge; a well casing; a suction line; a booster line, and a booster jet operating in said suction line; said suction line being in communication with said intake; a connecting head formed on said base and having a booster passage communicating with said discharge, and a suction passage in direct communication with said intake and forming the medium of communication between the suction line and the intake; said passages being adapted for direct connection to said booster line and to said suction line respectively, in` parallel, and, an adapter connectable between said head and the head of said weil casing for connecting said well casing to said booster passage to convert said well casing into the booster line, and including sealing means for` sealing the adapter to the outer periphery of the suction line with the suction line located axially within the well casing to form an annular booster passage between the suction line and the casing; and in which said adapter comprises a flange for the top of the well casing; a manifold having an axial passage for the suction line and sealing means therefor and including sealing connecting means for securing said manifold to said flange; connection to said booster passage and having a flange at its lower end for bolted connection to the top of said manifold, and a passage formed in said manifold and communicating between said nipple and said annular booster passage.

6. A centrifugal pump provided with a suction connection and a booster connection; a well casing; a suction line connected to said suction connection and extending into said well casing and having a booster jet operatively associated therewith; a booster line formed as an annular passage between said suction line and the encompassing well casing and having communication with said jet; and adapter, comprising a device .scalableand securable to the top of said well casing and having an axial passage for said suction line and means sealing the passage externally of said suction line against leakage; a discharge for said pump; a nipple for said booster connection and removably connected to said device in radially spaced relation to said suction line and in communication with said discharge for said pump; said adapter having a passage communicating between said'nipple and said annular passage.

7. A structure as claimed in claim 6 in which said device comprises a flange secured to the top of the well casing, and a manifold boltedly secured to said flange with said nipple boltedly secured to the top face of said manifold.

8. A centrifugal pump; a well casing; a suction line extending into said well casing and having a booster jet and forming a booster line in the' annular space between the suction line and the encompassing well casing with the booster line in communication with said jet; an adapter for connecting said booster line to said well casing comprising a flange for the upper end of the well casing; a manifold securable to said ange and having an axial suction-line passage and sealing means therefor, and an annular chamber communicating with said annular space between the suction line and casing; said pump having an intake and a discharge; a nipple boltedly secured y to the top surface of said manifold in spaced relation to said axial passage and communicating with said discharge, and a booster passage formed in said manifold and communicating. between saidnipple and said annular chamber; and a communicating connection between said suction line and said intake.

9. In a pumping system; a centrifugal pump having an intake and a discharge, a suction line connected to said intake and having a booster jet operatively associated therewith; a well casing surrounding said suction line and forming a 1 booster line in the annular space therebetween with said booster line in communication with a nipple threaded at its upper end for l said jet; a. head secured and sealed to the top of said well casing and having an axial passage for said suction line and means for sealing said suction line in said passage; a booster passage formed through said head and communicating with said annular passage; and a removable connection for'connecting said head to said pump and establishing communication between said distion line.

charge and said booster passage; one end of said removable connection being manually releasable and free of obstructional influences between the cooperative connecting surfaces when released to permit rotation of said pump relative to said head while said pump-is connected to said suc- FRCED A. CARPENTER. 

